Brisbane takes lead as nation’s ‘bleisure’ capital, figures from Corporate Traveller reveal

Queensland’s sun-drenched capital has outstripped Sydney and Melbourne as Australia’s ‘bleisure’ epicentre off the back of soaring economic growth, new data shows.

Corporate Traveller, the flagship SME division of Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), today released the figures following exclusive analysis of flight booking data from October 2023 to March 2024, which revealed inbound travellers to Brisbane are now spending an average of 5.2 days, outpacing Sydney’s 4.1, and Melbourne’s 4.6 average days.

Brisbane has even trumped the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast in the ‘bleisure’ stakes (at 4.5 and 4.6 days respectively), according to a year-on-year (YOY) comparison of business travel booking data collected by

Corporate Traveller, with the city’s buoyed economy a key factor. Brisbane currently has the highest density of innovation hubs per capita with manufacturing exports and growth outpacing the rest of the country. A recent economic report predicted its economy will further soar by 68 per cent over the next 20 years.[1]

The Corporate Traveller analysis further showed that business travellers in Queensland’s critical economic sectors such as mining, oil, and gas made up 17 per cent of bookings in the six months through the end of March, followed by those in the construction sector (16%), health care and social assistance (12%), services (10%), and manufacturing (9%).

Further figures show business bookings have swelled by seven per cent YOY.

With May being Small Business month in Queensland, Tom Walley, Australia-based Global Managing Director for FCTG’s Corporate Traveller, said the numbers reveal a unique opportunity for the city’s SMEs, especially given Brisbane’s ability to captivate visitors for durations that extend well beyond the work week.

About Corporate Traveller

Corporate Traveller is an award-winning business travel management and solutions provider for SMEs, operating in six global markets. Established in 1993 as Flight Centre Travel Group’s first corporate brand, Corporate Traveller has offered its personalised service, expert tailored advice, dedicated travel consultants, and advanced booking technology to more than 6500 Australian business customers. Offering an all-in-one innovative booking platform with the support of a personal travel consultant, Corporate Traveller makes travel simpler, faster, and easier for businesses. With a wide range of solutions available, Corporate Traveller can cater for simple requirements through to the most complex SME business travel management needs. For more information or to book a business consultation, visit corporatetraveller.com.au